Woman arrested for attempting to drown 1-year-old daughter in bathtub

Police in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, said Monday they have arrested a 41-year-old woman for attempting to drown her 1-year-old daughter in the bathtub.

According to police, the suspect—identified as Yumiko Takahashi—attempted to drown her daughter Kurumi at around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sankei Shimbun reported. Takahashi’s mother-in-law, who had come over to help babysit, heard Takahashi call out and went into the bathroom. Takahashi and been taking a bath together with her daughter, the woman told police.

Kurumi was taken to hospital and remains unconscious, police said.

Takahashi was quoted by police as saying, “I was having trouble raising kids. I thought that if I killed her, my responsibility would go away.”

26 Comments

Takahashi was quoted by police as saying, “I was having trouble raising kids. I thought that if I killed her, my responsibility would go away.”

Maybe some of these statements from criminals are taken a bit out of context, but they always sound so chillingly matter of fact, like whatever horrific crime has just been committed is in fact perfectly sensible and logical.

Such a sad way to start the day. Why didn't she just ask her mother-in-law to look after little Kurumi while she took a long and relaxing bath. It seems like she has family support, so why not use it rather than trying to drown her daughter? And if things were that bad, perhaps she could have arranged the daughter to go to day care or go to a Mommy and me class to help her feel better about her situation?

Some years back, someone coined the term, "Adult Children"....referring to people who are adults in age, and yet children in terms of emotional and mental development. Girls are biologically able to give birth from the early teens, but raising a baby/child is a whole different ball game that requires maturity--tireless giving with little in return (love). What one sacrifices/gives in the first several years, the rewards become evident years later as the baby grows into an adolescent and then into a responsible adult. People who have grown accustomed to instant and visible rewards will have a hard time nurturing a child as the rewards become evident years and years later. Having said that, to really nurture a child, sacrificial love is needed, similar to how Jesus loves us unconditionally.

Simon FostonNov. 27, 2012 - 07:35AM JST
Maybe some of these statements from criminals are taken a bit out of context, but they always sound so chillingly matter of fact, like whatever horrific crime has just been committed is in fact perfectly sensible and logical.

My theory, and this is just a theory, is that this mother has probably been mentally ill for quite some time, has been sleep-deprived, which exacerbated the mental illness, and to her at the time this seemed like a logical and sensible course of action. I'm not in any way excusing her act, a sociopath who kills someone is still a killer, however it does help us understand that in order to rehabilitate this individual as far as possible a psychiatric ward might be more appropriate and productive than a prison cell.

SAME NAME COINCIDENT ?
http://japandailypress.com/worst-nightmare-mom-chats-online-while-neglecting-dying-son-025649

29-year-old Yumiko Takahashi was arrested because she was so busy chatting online, that she neglected to tend to her ailing son. As a result the year-and-a-half old Neo died due to pneumonia and he was dead for more than a day before Takahashi realized what had happened.

Teenage mother and stepfathers get a really bad rep here, however of late I have noticed more and more of older parents doing these kind of things. Even the woman in the link above - 29. That is NOT a young mother...

My personal theory is that, with women marrying much older, they possibly find the change from being completely selfish, to having to be completely selfless, too hard. Younger mothers are easier to adapt, I think.

Takahashi was quoted by police as saying, “I was having trouble raising kids. I thought that if I killed her, my responsibility would go away.

Then why have a kid!!?? God people like this REALLY REALLY piss me off. I just want to go over there and bitch slap her! Thankfully the girl wasn't killed. Hopefully they do the right thing and find her a new home with parents who want her and care for her, and not just blindly return her to her sick and demented monster of a mother.